For desert setups, hardier insects are needed, such as lesser mealworms, mealworms, and superworms, and their beetles. The next question was how to make the enclosure bioactive. ![]() I had the idea of building substrate around caves while leaving the insides bare, which would allow me to continue using belly heat and eliminate the need for a heat lamp. This floor heat would not work through thick layers of bioactive substrate. I experimented with cycling the heat in my cage, warmer during the day and cooler at night, and noticed that my gecko seemed healthier and brighter overall when provided with constant, steady floor heat. One of the reasons I enjoy leopard geckos is the fact that they do not require large enclosures or heat lamps. I wanted to utilize the existing floor heat and cooler lighting in my leopard gecko cage instead. ![]() The majority of bioactive enclosures use lighting to provide basking heat. I wondered, could I adapt those methods to my leopard gecko cage? While tropical and forest setups are more common, some pioneering individuals have successfully designed enclosures for desert species such as bearded dragons and Uromastyx. Because naturalistic enclosures with substrate cannot be cleaned in the standard way, bioactive enclosures use a population of invertebrates and microbes to break down waste and keep the substrate clean. My search for natural reptile habitats in captivity led me to the resurgent bioactive reptile community. I began researching the natural habitat of leopard geckos. My leopard gecko’s enclosure, while it provided all his basic needs, looked barren in comparison. I’ve spent a great deal of time wandering zoos and nature centers, transfixed by the elaborate habitats and their inhabitants. Even then, my gecko’s home didn’t seem adequate. A hardy haworthia succulent followed that. I installed a small light fixture with a low-wattage UVB compact fluorescent bulb. He spent over a year in a simple, modern setup before being moved into a larger display cage with more hides and climbing areas. At the time, I didn’t expect him to live, but he made an incredible recovery once provided with proper care. I fell in love with leopard geckos when I took in a rescue in terrible condition. Still, many keepers wonder about creating more naturalistic enclosures. This simple setup works, and it has saved the lives of many leopard geckos previously kept in inadequate conditions due to ignorance. ![]() Anyone involved in the online leopard gecko community can recite the ideal leopard gecko setup: paper towel or tile, belly heat controlled with a thermostat, a dry hide, a humid hide, and a water dish.
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